During the pilot phase the District Education Board
Secretary commented on the need to adopt the newly introduced low cost
technology in order to accelerate the sanitation improvement in schools with
cost effectiveness. The DEBS office was highly excited with the introduction of
this interim WASH standard which led them to request VAREN to upscale the work
and help schools to realize the vision of providing quality education. The DEBS
highlighted that due to poor sanitation facilities in most schools, teachers
are de-motivated and even pupils especially girls who are at puberty during
their menstruation.

The female Pupil’s voice about
the newly constructed sanitation facilities

Catharine Banda a grade eight (8) pupil at Mount
Carmel said that I never thought of using the school toilet because the situation
was beyond explanation. At my school we are over 1,000 but only two latrines
available which are being used by all grades from one to Nine, imagine the situation, and at my age it
is practically impossible because I feel insecure, shame and very uncomfortable.
Since the coming of these latrines I can’t
hide my happiness and excitement. The dream of spending more hours at school
and enjoying my learning has come true. The handwashing facility is just so
amazing that I feel like washing my
hands all the time. Thank you to VAREN and your supporters UNIECF and DFID
for the extraordinary work and gift you have given us.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
TO THE POSITION PAPER PRESENTED TO NGOS IN LUAPULA REGARDING THE UPSCALING OF
WATER AND SANITATION IN THE PROVINCE FOLLOWING THE PETITION MADE TO THE
REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA MR.MICHAEL CHILUFYA SATA IN SEPTEMBER, 2013.

RESPONSE PRESENTED BY THE PERMANENT SECRETARY
OF THE MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING REV. HAWARD SIKWELA.

The Permanent secretary
reaffirmed government commitment to end water poverty and it has prioritized
the sector in National Planning to enhance resource allocation as a means to
alleviate poverty and socio-economic development.

In 2014 budget the government has
allocated a total number K417.8 million towards improvement of water supply and
sanitation services in the country. It is expected that over 602, 500 people in
rural areas will benefit from accessing clean and safe drinking water.

Specific commitment to Luapula Province
by Government of the Republic of Zambia

A).
Rural Water Supply and Sanitation

1). 553 Boreholes will be
constructed.

2). 316 Boreholes will be
rehabilitated.

3). 43 Hand- dug wells will be
constructed.

4). 202 institutional VIP toilets
will be constructed.

All these investments will be
undertaken through the support of Government, UNICEF and JAICA.

B).
Urban and Peri-Urban Areas -Water Supply and Sanitation

1). US$10Million has been secured
from ARAB Bank of Development in Africa (BADEA) for improvement of Water and
Sanitation facilities in Mansa and Kawambwa. Works are expected to start by the
second quarter of this year.

2). 12 Water schemes will be
constructed.

Information
Management Systems

The Ministry is in a process of
ensuring that all districts and provincial centers have a comprehensive data
base.

CSOs’
Requirements

CSOs need to give Ministry of
Local Government the number of portable lab for water quality testing and the
detailed costs so that they engage the ministry of finance for support.

FURTHER
RECOMMENDATION WORTH GOVRNMENT CONSIDERATION

There is need for the government
to specifically provide 0.5% from the GDP rather than depending largely on
external support.

Water: Zambia through the Ministry of Local
Government and Housing (MLGH) developed two national programs to guide the
implementation of water and sanitation projects, resulting in improved sector
support activities. The two programs are the National Rural Water Supply and
Sanitation Program (2011 – 2030) and the National Urban Water Supply and
Sanitation Program (2006 – 2015). According to the JMP, the national coverage
on water stands at 64%, hence more resources still need to be invested in the
water sector.

Sanitation and hygiene: However, limited progress has been made in
sanitation resulting in Zambia remaining off-track to achieve the MDG target on
sanitation. The JMP reports that the national rate for improved sanitation is 42%,
while that of rural areas is 33 percent. According to the National Water Supply
and Sanitation Council (NWASCO) sanitation coverage for urban areas stands at
57 percent. Zambia recognizes this challenge and is accelerating efforts to
increase sanitation coverage by implementing a sanitation roll out program
targeting 3 million people in rural areas by 2015. Simultaneously, the
extension of sanitation services to urban and peri-urban areas will be
implemented targeting 500,000 people to gain access to adequate sanitation by
2016.

Disparities: Some disparities exist in provision of
water. The JMP indicates that only 50% of Zambians in the rural areas have
access to an improved water source while the figure for the urban areas stands
at 80 percent. There are also inadequacies in
the provision of sanitation, especially for households in peri-urban and
low-income areas leading to outbreaks of diseases.

Impact on health, economy,
poverty and other sectors: Poor
water and sanitation provision negatively
affects Zambia’s economy. It was estimated by the World Bank (WSP, 2012), that as at the year 2010, Zambia
was losing 1.3% of its GDP, or US$194 Million) annually due to bad sanitation.

1. Long term vision and focus
for 2016: Zambia is
committed to achieving universal access to water and sanitation in order to
improve the quality of life and enhance economic growth. The country aims to
achieve by 2015, 75% access to reliable safe water and 60% access to adequate
sanitation (Sixth National Development Plan - SNDP). The long term vision is the
achievement of 90% access to adequate sanitation and 100% access to safe water
supply by 2030 (Vision 2030).

Focus between 2014 and 2016: Between 2014 and 2016, Zambia will focus on
increasing investments in the sector. A financing mechanism will be developed
to provide clear targets on WASH and improve sustainability. The implementation
of an effective management of information system will improve planning,
resource allocation and monitoring. Implementation of activities will be
aligned to the decentralization policy. The country’s focus will also be on rolling
out sanitation coverage in peri-urban and rural areas.This will contribute to
the elimination of inequalities and achievement of open defecation free status
by 2020.

Fit with national priorities:
Devolution of resources
and authority to Local Authorities is in line with the Decentralization Policy
and results in improved service delivery. Increasing coverage in rural and peri
– urban areas is in line with the Vision 2030 andSNDP which aim at reducing
inequalities.

Commitments on increasing
financing to water and sanitation: Slow progress on commitments to increase financing to WASH. This commitment will be taken to 2014, with a
focus on developing a financing strategy that guarantees increased national
budget allocation and growth in the sector.

Commitments on development of
an effective information management system: Good progress on commitment. Although progress in 2012
was slow, Government and partners are working together to develop an effective
national information management system. The objective is to overcome capacity
and technical issues which led to the old system being ineffective and
unusable. The system is expected to improve planning and monitoring and
evaluation.

Commitments on Capacity: Good progress in human resource allocation
to Local Authorities. Implementation of decentralization policy needs to be
scaled up, focusing on devolution of activities, strengthening the Local
Authorities’ resource mobilization and improving staff allocation. A capacity
development strategy will be developed to guide the sector, followed by
implementation of planned interventions.

Commitments on sanitation and
eliminating of open defecation: Progress slow but gaining momentum. The focus will be to develop a
strategy to sustain interventions and increase coverage inperi–urban and rural
areas.

4. 2014 SMART Commitments

Financing: The Ministry of Local Government and
Housing and the Ministry of Finance to jointly develop by 2016, a financing
strategy, with specific investment targets for water and sanitation.